Gua Sha (pronounced gwah shah) has long been a medical technique employed within Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat musculo-skeletal conditions, tension and both acute and chronic pain. Gua Sha technique involves using a flat blunt edged tool often made from ceramic, stone, resin or plastic to scrape the skin in a short/long back and forth motion, generating friction and heat to stimulate circulation and break down adhesions in the tissue.

Like with cupping therapy, Gua Sha may produce temporary marks (sha) in the skin which in Traditional Chinese Medicine, indicates stagnation/blockages of qi, blood or fluids in the region that was scraped (Gua). In patients that have qi/blood/fluid buildup or blockage or adhesions in the muscles, gua sha may be incorporated into the treatment.